High School Opportunities that have Impacted Me by Taylie

High School Opportunities that have Impacted Me by Taylie - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

I have always strived to be very involved throughout my school years. I've always wanted to be a part of everything. For example, Girl Scouts, NHS, Band, FFA, the Dual Credit Program, and any other kind of activity that involved organizing or helping someone. Helping people has constantly been something I've always been passionate about because I enjoy doing things to better the community or to just make someone feel better. Several programs or organizations like NHS, the Dual Credit Program at Slaton High School, and being a part of the leadership team in our band, have made me the person I am today.

For the past three years, I have been involved in Slaton High School's chapter of NHS. I was inducted into NHS during my sophomore year of high school. This organization has given me several opportunities to give back to the community of Slaton. Every year, I participate in service projects like Santa Red and Blue and the Children's Miracle Network campaign "Miracle Pennies." This organization has shown me how good it feels to give back to the community and how beneficial it is to those in need that receive the gifts and services we provide.

Throughout high school, I have been in the dual credit program. Throughout this program, I have been able to take several college courses through the school. When I graduate, I will have earned over thirty-five college credits in just four years. I am very thankful for this opportunity because it has shown me a glimpse of what college will be like as well as pushing me to work harder. I am truly satisfied with my performance in this program because it showed me how to study hard and make sure to get the required assignments turned in on time. I think this program has helped me become a better student inside and outside the classroom. I have learned that you have to figure out how to balance your classwork and your social life so that you can succeed in each subject.

Another activity I have been a part of is having the opportunity to hold a leadership position in my school's band program. Even though I have held several different positions over the years, this leadership team has taught me how to better myself and overall, how to be a good leader. During my freshman and sophomore years, I helped the band while being on the Loading Crew whenever the band traveled or had a football game. This position can sometimes be described as very stressful. Holding this position indicated that it was my job to load the percussion equipment onto the trailer. This meant learning how to calmly and politely ask for the equipment to be handed to me in an orderly fashion. This proved to be very hard because it was very stressful trying to get eleven drums into a tiny attack of a trailer all at once. Then, during my Junior and Senior year, I was a section leader. It was difficult for me to learn how to be a mini teacher for those younger than me that didn't have the experience that I had. In the end, it has made me a better leader. It helped me learn that sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and remember that everything is going to be okay because it’s not the end of the world if everything is not perfect.

Overall, these opportunities I have been given like being in NHS, taking dual credit classes, and being on the leadership team, have helped me mature and learn how to be a better person. Being in high school has been very stressful at times, but I have learned how to manage my time and my stress through hard work and dedication. I am a different person today as opposed to who I was during my freshman year. I have grown into a very strong person who is eager to take on the next chapter of my life.